Under 8 Contract
From August 2023, the contract is referred to as “The Form of Agreement with Registered Medical Practitioners for the Provision of GMS Services to Child Patients aged under 8 years” (Under 8 Contract). The process of extending eligibility to all children aged between 6 and 7 years took place in 2023.
Revised capitation rates are now in place for children aged 6 and over:
0-5 year olds (universal - all children in this age cohort are entitled to a DVC) = €125 (no change)
6-7 year olds (universal - all children in this age cohort are entitled to a DVC) = €100
8-12 year olds (those entitled to GMS/DVC based on family income) = €100
GPs who take up this contract will receive a standard annual capitation payment as above for children registered on their panel. The enhanced capitation rates are superannuable and include the supplementary out of hours fee.
In addition to providing GP care for all under 8’s, the contract includes the provision of periodic wellness checks for children once at age two and once at age five, which are focused on health and wellbeing and disease prevention. These above rates include the provision of these wellness checks, there is no additional fee for completing them. A grant is available for the purchase of height measure & weighing scales, see here.
Under 8 Asthma Cycle of Care
GPs are entitled to further enhanced capitation for each child aged between 2-8 years old and diagnosed with asthma on their panel. Registration of Asthmatic Under 8 patients is via the PCRS online portal. Once registered, the once off registration fee will issue. This registration fee is superannuable. The enhanced capitation for the Asthma Cycle of Care is also superannuable.
The enhanced capitation in year one post registration includes two visits, one at three months post registration and an annual review visit. One visit is required in the subsequent years, up to and including the age of 7. The enhanced capitations are subject to the return of the datasets through the GP.
Enhanced Capitations | Payment Type | Payment |
Asthmatic Under 8 patients | Registration Fee | €50.00 |
| First year of registration (two visits)* | €90.00 |
| Each subsequent year (one visit)* | €45.00 |
*Subject to dataset(s) return, see below.